saving sweet memories...

This photograph captured a very sweet memory of one of the many dinners we shared with our dear (and much missed) friends and neighbors, Don & Michel, at our home in Dallas.   Judging from the glazed lemon pound cake, which was one of Don's favorites, I would guess this was his birthday dinner as I would always try to make their favorites.  I remember taking this photo at the end of the meal thinking it was such a wonderful night that I wanted to remember it forever.   I love how it is slightly blurry, and the table is in disarray-  just like a sweet memory, faded and softened around the edges.

One of my favorite personal possessions is my guest menu-book that I have had for the last 20 years- where I have kept the names of all guests/family that I have made dinner for with the date and menu,  how I decorated the table, what dishes, glasses, flatware and napkins I used.  I write down any notes about preparing the meal, any comments from the guests about the meal... .  It has become a journal of sweet, wonderful memories centered around the dining table and sharing meals.  Reading it transports me back to that memory and all the guests who have graced our table.

  I also will, on occasion, take photographs of the table before the guests arrive, but my favorite photographs are the ones I sometimes take after the meal, like the photograph above-  when the table isn't set and perfect, but the memory of one meal and one wonderful evening is captured forever.

I wish you the makings of sweet memories as you gather around the table with family and friends this Thanksgiving!

xojoan

This is Mavis...

or as the rest of the world recognizes- Venus de Milo without her head.

I should have known that immediately too, I mean - I took Art History at The University of Texas, and even made an A in the class, but somehow her true identity alluded me. To me she was just a beautiful vintage concrete garden statue that we found in Austin years ago. I fell for her sharp details and the folds in her garment, so delicate and refined for a concrete statue. We found the iron base at an estate sale in Dallas, it was in the backyard under some weeds and wasn't even for sale until we asked after it; I think we paid $6 for it. We had a square iron piece cut to fit the top so that Mavis could stand on the stand.

Now, flash forward about a year... Dan and I are in the Louvre in Paris, and we are walking down the long corridor toward the Sully wing, and there forty feet ahead of us, straight away, is

the Venus de Milo.

Dan and I, at the same moment, have the same realization and turn to each other and simultaneously (and loudly) exclaim.......
"It's MAAAY- VIS!!"

I'm sure we sounded like the biggest country bumpkins! The French were thinking "silly Americans..."

Mavis stands at the entrance into the Reading Room which is directly behind the living room,and her cousin Venus is still at the Louvre.

this is Mary

(disclaimer: I know this is a silly post, but hey I'm unpacking!)

I just found a box that holds my childhood dolls (it resides in a closet.) Mary is my Madame Alexander doll that Santa brought me one Christmas morning when I was about six. I had wanted her for a very long time, and when I received her that Christmas I fell in love! I would cry if anyone referred to Mary as a "doll." She was a baby. I don't think Madame Alexander sanctioned the washing of their dolls hair, but babies must have their baths, and so Mary has a rather frizzed do!

The dress she now dons, and has for years, was actually my dress when I was a baby- my mother made it. Mary is also wearing diapers (helllooooo, she's a baby after all!) and the diaper pin on the diapers was also mine! I still think she is the most beautiful baby doll!

So... what was your favorite doll baby's name? Do you still have her?


Here I am in said dress with my two much-older sisters!!! ;)!

And, since this is a house blog, please note the fabulous antique Chinese ginger jar in the left of the photo! It is one of a pair that my mean, mean mother ;) gave to my oldest sister.

I covet those ginger jars!